Yak (2022) Board Game – Board Game Guys

Yak is a board game designed by Chris Quilliams and released in in 2022. It is a economic game where players compete to become the best yak rancher in the region. The game features beautiful artwork by Pretzel Games and is suitable for players aged 8 and above.

Game Components of Yak

4 Yaks

1 Baby yak

4 Carts

8 Cart panels

1 Game board

4 Player boards

1 Quarry bag

64 Coloured stones

45 Food tokens

8 Crystal stones

1 Mountain

1 Fog marker

5 Fog stones

1 Stupa marker

1 Score pad

12 Action cards

8 Bonus cards.

How To Setup Yak

To set up Yak, each player starts with one cart in front of them, containing three stones and some food. Each player also begins with one good of each type (meat, milk, bread) and three cards in hand: build, restock, and market. The yaks and their carts are arranged on the game board, with all yaks facing the same direction. The quarry bag is filled with coloured stones, crystal stones, and fog stones. Players take turns in a specific order, determined by the baby yak token.

Gameplay Mechanics and Game Objective

Mechanics

Action Selection: Players secretly and simultaneously choose one of their three action cards (build, restock, market) each round.

Resource Management: Players manage food tokens (meat, milk, bread) to acquire stones from the carts.

Fog Mechanic: Fog stones drawn from the quarry bag reverse the direction of all carts, altering the availability of stones and food restrictions.

Tower Building: Players build their stone towers by placing stones immediately after acquiring them.

Game Objective

The goal is to construct a stone tower with the most points by forming groups of stones of the same color and multiple groups of different colors.

Points are scored for each group of two or more stones, the number of groups, individual stones, triggering the end of the game, and having the most remaining food.

Player Experience

Yak is praised for its beautiful components, including high-quality wooden pieces and gorgeous artwork, making it visually appealing. However, the gameplay mechanics are often described as simple and lacking in depth. Players need to plan ahead to manage their resources and build their towers efficiently, but the game can drag on, taking over an hour to complete. The fog mechanic adds a layer of unpredictability but does not significantly impact the game’s outcome.

Pros

Visually Appealing: High-quality components and beautiful artwork.

Accessible Mechanics: Easy to learn, making it suitable for families and younger players.

Resource Management: Engaging decision-making on resource allocation.

Physical Interaction: Fun physical interaction with the yaks and carts.

Cons

Lack of Depth: Simple gameplay mechanics that do not offer much complexity or replayability.

Lengthy Gameplay: Games can take over an hour, which is too long for the level of strategy involved.

Confusing Action Cards: Language-independent graphics on action cards can be intuitive but sometimes confusing.

Limited Replayability: The game lacks the variety and depth to keep players engaged over multiple sessions.

Personal Thoughts on Yak

Yak is a game that shines in its presentation but falls short in its gameplay substance. It is best suited for families with middle-school-aged children who will appreciate the visual appeal and simple mechanics. For more seasoned gamers, Yak might feel too light and repetitive. While it’s worth playing for its unique theme and components, it may not be the best value for purchase given its limited replayability.

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